AZUSA >> A transgender senior at Azusa High School could continue to break new ground in her district — this time as a member of the girls softball team, officials said Wednesday.

Pat Cordova-Goff, 17, made headlines in September as the district’s first transgenderhomecoming princess and recently participated in tryouts for the school’s softball team. Transgender is a term for people whose birth gender conflicts with their self-identity.

“If the school determines the student-athlete is transgender, following the guidelines regarding this issue, the student-athlete would be eligible to participate on their softball team,” said Thom Simmons, director of communications for the California Interscholastic Federation-Southern Section. “If they do not determine that the student-athlete is eligible for their softball team, that student-athlete may appeal that to the state CIF.”

New rules that went into effect for the 2013-2014 sports season state that students can participate in CIF activities “in a manner that is consistent with their gender identity, irrespective of the gender listed on a student’s records.”

This is the first time that CIF-SS officials have heard of a transgender student trying out for a team, Simmons said.

“However, a member school could have determined a transgender student was able to participate on a particular team at their school and we wouldn’t even know about it,” he said. “They do not have to report it, or anything like that. The way we would know is if a student appealed a denial of being allowed to play on a particular team at a school, and I am not aware of any denials since this new rule went into effect.”

Pat, the Associated Student Body president, said she started playing baseball when she was 4 but quit the sport after an uncomfortable freshman season on the Aztec baseball team.

“That’s why when California passed A.B. 1266, I knew I would play softball,” she said, referring to the amendment to the state Education Code prohibiting public schools from discriminating on the basis of gender issues. “At first, I was kind of nervous because I thought maybe I lost my talent, but it felt natural. And I think because I played for so long, and I loved the sport, it was like I was back where I belonged.”

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The results of the softball tryout were expected to be posted Wednesday afternoon, school officials said.

Pat, who mainly played pitcher and third base growing up, tried out for any position on the team. She hoped to follow in the footsteps of older sister, Toni, 21, who was a four-year varsity softball player in high school.

“Although there were much rumors of opposition and nonsupport, the (tryout) was fairly easy and no real issues arose,” Pat said. “I am hoping for the best.”

The district had positive words to say about Pat’s tryouts.

“Our district encourages all students to participate in extracurricular activities and athletics, and we want to ensure that every student has access to these components of our educational program,” Azusa Unified Superintendent Linda Kaminski said. “These type of activities enrich the school experience for our students.”

Sarah Warbelow, a spokeswoman for the LGBT advocacy group Human Rights Campaign, said 12 states — including California, Oregon, Illinois, Connecticut and the District of Columbia — have laws prohibiting gender-identity discrimination in education.

Yet California is the first state in the nation to implement a bill clarifying that such discrimination is against the law, Warbelow said.

Effective in January, Assemblyman Tom Ammiano’s Assembly Bill 1266 stated that all schools in California have to allow students to participate in school activities — including athletic teams and competitions — and use facilities consistent with the gender identity with which the student identifies.

A.B. 1266 dissuades people from filing lawsuits, Warbelow said. In Colorado and Maine, two of the 12 states mentioned earlier, people filed claims to try to prevent transgender students from using restrooms consistent with their gender identity, Warbelow said. In both cases, the LGBT community prevailed.

Under CIF guidelines for gender identity participation, any questions regarding the integrity of the student’s request to participate in a gender-segregated sport can be resolved through an appeal process that includes participation by a doctor or mental health professional.

“Once the student has been granted eligibility to participate in the sport consistent with his/her gender identity, the eligibility is granted for the duration of the student’s participation and does not need to be renewed every sports season or school year,” the guidelines state. “All discussion and documentation will be kept confidential, and the proceedings will be sealed unless the student and family make a specific request.”

For now, Pat is eagerly waiting to see the rosters, which field approximately 15 varsity and 15 junior varsity team members.

“I know that I tried out for softball strictly because I know I loved the sport, and that’s what my family revolves around,” she said. “I tried out just for me; it wasn’t to change the world.”